Flu 'more of a problem' than doctors think

It may seem that most people develop a cold or flu-like symptoms during the winter months, but a new study has found that during recent outbreaks of the influenza virus, hardly any people developed symptoms or found the need to visit a doctor, despite the high number that were infected.

To make this discovery, scientists at University College London embarked on an investigation dubbed Flu Watch, which analysed a number of British households during the annual influenza outbreaks between 2006 and 2011.

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Participants were required to provide blood samples before and after each flu season and were contacted each week during a widespread outbreak to find out if they were experiencing any symptoms associated with the virus, such as a cough, cold or sore throat.

Those who reported such ailments had to supply a nasal swab so the researchers could test for any signs of viruses affecting the respiratory system.

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Results showed that an average of 18 per cent of those who had not received the flu vaccine contracted the virus each season, with the majority of these outbreaks occurring during the 2009 pandemic.

However, of those taking part in the study, 77 per cent did not develop any symptoms and only 17 per cent were ill enough to visit their doctor, despite researchers estimating that one in five UK citizens were infected with the flu virus.

Cases of influenza are recorded by the Royal College of General Practitioners Sentinel Influenza-Like Illness Surveillance Scheme, but the University College of London investigation revealed that the rate at which the virus affected people was around 22 times higher than records show.

Dr Andrew Hayward, lead author of the study, said: "Reported cases of influenza represent the tip of a large clinical and subclinical iceberg that is mainly invisible to national surveillance systems that only record cases seeking medical attention."

He added that health care improvements are needed to be able to deal with this high number of cases to ensure the virus does not become even more of a problem in the future.

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